Former Manchester United ace Ruud Van Nistelrooy is being tipped to be the man most likely to become the next PSV manager.
Current boss Roger Schmidt will leave his role at the Netherlands club at the end of the season when his contract expires after being able to agree a new deal. Van Nistelrooy, who is currently leading PSV’s reserve side, played for the club between 1998 and 2001 prior to his £19m move to United.
He helped them to back-to-back Dutch titles in the 1999/00 and 2000/01 seasons, earning the league’s golden boot twice during his stay. The 45-year-old seemingly ruled himself out of the running for the soon-to-be vacant position at his former club earlier this month, saying: “I don’t think I’m ready for that yet.”
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But, according to ED, incoming PSV CEO Marcel Brands has given him his vote of support for the role, despite Van Nistelrooy never previously being in charge of a senior side. The report brands Van Nistelrooy as 'the most important candidate' to become Schmidt’s successor with former PSV and Feyenoord boss Fred Rutten expressing an interest in becoming his assistant.
The Old Trafford hero is himself currently enjoying his second stint as assistant coach with the Netherlands national team after managing PSV’s youth side between 2018 and 2021. Van Nistelrooy worked under Sir Alex Ferguson, who many deem to be one of the greatest managers of the game, during his time at United.
PSV supporters may hope he will pull on those experiences and lead the club to their first title since 2018, if appointed. Van Nistelrooy lifted a Premier League and an FA Cup in his five years in Manchester prior to his 2006 switch to Real Madrid.
In all he scored 150 goals in 219 Red Devils matches, earning the Champions League top scorer award in three separate seasons. He also won the Premier League golden boot for his 25 goals during the title-winning 2002/03 campaign.
